Select the most appropriate option to replace the underlined part of the sentence. If no improvement is needed, choose ‘No improvement’.
The number of food stalls at our colony’s Diwali mela have doubled this year.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → has doubled
“The number of” takes a singular verb:
- “The number of” means “the count of”. The subject is the number, which is singular.
- The given sentence says “have doubled”. This is wrong: “have” goes with the plural “stalls”, but the subject is “the number”.
- Complete sentence: The number of food stalls at our colony’s Diwali mela has doubled this year.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: were doubled — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but the subject “the number” is singular. Example: The guards at the gate were doubled for the festival.
Option 2: has double — Incorrect. After “has”, the verb takes its past participle (V3) form, “doubled”.